A False Proverb Refuted

18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:

‘The (A)fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.

“Behold, all souls are (B)Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
(C)The soul who sins shall die.
But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
(D)If he has not eaten [a]on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor (E)defiled his neighbor’s wife,
Nor approached (F)a woman during her impurity;
If he has not (G)oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his (H)pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has (I)given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with (J)clothing;
If he has not [b]exacted (K)usury
Nor taken any increase,
But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
And (L)executed true [c]judgment between man and man;
If he has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully—
He is just;
He shall surely (M)live!”
Says the Lord God.

10 “If he begets a son who is a robber
Or (N)a shedder of blood,
Who does any of these things
11 And does none of those duties,
But has eaten [d]on the mountains
Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;
12 If he has oppressed the poor and needy,
Robbed by violence,
Not restored the pledge,
Lifted his eyes to the idols,
Or (O)committed abomination;
13 If he has exacted usury
Or taken increase—
Shall he then live?
He shall not live!
If he has done any of these abominations,
He shall surely die;
(P)His blood shall be upon him.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 18:6 At the mountain shrines
  2. Ezekiel 18:8 Lent money at interest
  3. Ezekiel 18:8 justice
  4. Ezekiel 18:11 At the mountain shrines

30 (A)“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. (B)“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 (C)Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a (D)new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For (E)I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and (F)live!”

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